| Ear ear |
[Jun. 6th, 2006|09:04 pm] |
Accessories maketh the outfit, some advice I should probably have heeded. Earrings can add such a nice yet subtle touch to an outfit. They vary so wildly from the obviously bling bling, with Argos doing a particularly fine range for your inner chav, though with Lily Allen modelling this look mixed with vintage dresses it might be a more appealing option than you first thought. Crafty earrings are stocked in markets across the UK, and shops across in Internet, which show case individual creative talent in usually one off, or small-scale production pieces. Vintage is also another alluring option. 1980’s pieces are particularly widely available, especially to a low budget and offer a unique touch to plainer outfits, or can be used to highlight patterns or colours in bolder pieces.
But as I said, this is advice that I failed to pay enough attention to and as a result the pierced holes of my ears have closed. I’ve re pierced them, which was painful and now gives me the pleasure of smelling like disinfectant twice a day, not an appealing scent. I forgot about earrings for two long, either my outfits were already complete without them or I felt earrings would simply make it cluttered, or I just simply forgot and the earrings just stayed in the box. But this isn’t really a worthy excuse because earrings as well as being bold statements, large flowing hoops, or intricate tangles of beads, can also be extremely subtle, coloured studs for instance to match nail polish, or clash with a top.
From now on I’m going to try to be more accessory friendly, aside from anything else, the variation in looks you can get from one outfit by simply changing the accessories might save me some much needed pennies in the wardrobe department. |
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| Spaced out. |
[May. 31st, 2006|09:55 am] |
My biggest wardrobe dilemma at the moment actually has nothing to do with clothes, but how I can store them.
I have limited storage available and so have to operate a strict ‘one in one out’ policy with new clothes at the moment to ensure that overspill onto the floor, desk, and any other conceivable surface does not occur.
Storing clothes properly is almost as important as buying them, you can ruin a perfectly lovely cardigan before you’ve even worn it if you allow it to stretch held on a hanger, or a stunning dress can simply be neglected as it falls to the bottom of the pile where you never reach down to.
I’m pretty careful about wrecking my clothes, the no wire hangers rule has been drilled into me however I fear that I am very much guilty of the second offence. Only last week when shifting my clothes from Manchester down to London (end of uni / irrelevant) again did I find a beautiful vintage silk striped blouse that I had forgotten I even owned. What is that point of owning such clothes if you don’t ever get any wear out of them because you simply don’t even remember they are in your possession? My draws of cardigans and jumpers constantly need to be rooted through to make sure that I have neglected anything languishing at the bottom.
The solution to this problem is to hang anything that won’t be damaged being stored in this way and place all folded items on very shallow shelves so nothing is stuck at the back of the shelf. Draws are really only of use for smaller items, such as underwear, and clothing where storage so you are able to see them isn’t of up most importance, like pyjamas and sports wear. However, lovely as this arrangement all sounds it requires space, and lots of it, perhaps an extra room, depending on the amount of clothes you own. I for one am without this mythical extra room, so instead I’ve taken to photographing outfits for my style diary, so I can have a visual record of clothes I own, and that work together, neat yes? And best of all, storage space is nil (minus some megabytes). |
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| Start giving me the eye. |
[May. 21st, 2006|07:27 pm] |
The eye; it’s what every shopper seeks. The ability to see stylish outfits appear out what would seem like the most hideous of garments. Apart from ensuring that you look fantastic on all occasions, this gift is also a huge help to your wallet. ‘The eye’ sees fabulous creations where most of us just see dated tack. It allows you to be ahead of the fashion pack and stay unique at minimal cost.
My hairdresser once explained this all to me during a staged hair cut in front of a group of would be catwalk hair stylists. He claimed that fashion was born out of people with no visions rubbish. Looks on the catwalk which were then copied by the high street came from the ever so trendy brigade of fashionistas who scoured Brick Lane and Portobello as well as charity shops and thrift stores looking for the clothes that nobody else wanted, What they bought was what everyone else threw out. A few years ago, at the time of this haircut, the look that Topshop and the rest of the world was pushing combined 1920s elegance and 1980s glamour. My hairdresser alleged that these two looks were in because shortly before they had come into vogue these pieces were cheaply available at any junk sale; the 1920s because the owners of these items of clothing were dying and their estates being sold off, and the 1980s because every just believed that this really was the era that taste forgot and thought everything was too hideous to wear again, so threw it out with vigour. The cool kids who snapped these items up were then spotted by design teams and used as inspiration for the new collection, which then filtered onto the high street, at far higher prices then these throw away items that inspired them. Now, I don’t know of he was right, but it certainly seems to work, but it’s an interesting theory. And slightly ironic, if we all possessed ‘the eye’ then we wouldn’t throw anything, and thus there would be nothing to buy to create the next look. So maybe fashion is better off without the eye? Well the fashion industry is, not sure about my purse.
Credit where credit is due: My hair was cut by Dove at Vidal Sasson Creative school, in Grosvenor Place London. |
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| Put my foot in it. |
[May. 19th, 2006|09:26 pm] |
Anklets; is there an item more pointless?
I was confronted with row upon row of these when I was window-shopping recently in and around Manchester’s Arndale centre. They’ve reappeared predictably, as they do every summer, in huge varieties of colours and styles.
I just don’t see their appeal. Ankles are seldom seen, let alone admired, save for the occasions when your legs are bare, and your shoes low, i.e. flip flops with sunbathers legs. But even then, are ankles a key focal point? Well, they aren’t to me.
Aside from the ankle being on of the strangest places to wish to draw attention to, you can buy some lovely flip flops adorned with all manner of charms and glitz, so why spend extra on an anklet? The whole look with end up overloaded and cheap. In addition, anklets just irritate me, making me feel like I’ve caught something on my foot, and we’ve all had the dodgy tan line where a phantom watch stays marked on the arm, so why multiply the number on places on your body where this can happen?
Anklets are the jewellery counters way of telling you have too much money, and probably too much time too, so don’t buy the anklet, buy a nice pair of flip flops (Accessorize do some great ones, I’ve had mine for years) and spend your change on a nice smoothie to get you into that holiday mood. |
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| Here ebay, gone tomorrow |
[May. 12th, 2006|05:43 pm] |
Celia Birtwell was back in stock in Topshop Oxford Circus and online today… and sold out today. Now, cal me a cynic, but surely not everyone who purchased one of these dresses or blouses will actually be wearing them, they’ll be ebaying them.
Now, I’m not against ebay, I’ve bought from there, and will perhaps sell there too, but sometimes I just feel like it’s ruining things.
Take Stella McCartney’s collection for h&m, the aim of this line of clothing was to allow people to own McCartney’s designs at affordable prices, however woman (and perhaps a few men) ended up literally fighting over pieces nationwide as they were snapped up in bulk to be put on ebay with a huge mark up.
Celia Birtwell’s collection is going the same way too, with by it now prices sometimes over £100 what you would pay in the shops. Even the most innocent of past times, the Blue Peter badge, not strictly fashion but still, is having to be revamped into an electronic id card type gadget to stop people purchasing the badges on ebay in order to gain access to attractions and days out.
So what to do? Well honestly I just don’t know. I’m not meaning to sound preachy, I mean I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t do the same thing myself if I had the wit or initiative to go purchase these sell out items before they, well, sell out. But maybe if everyone just played fair, bought what he or she wanted to wear, and left what he or she wouldn’t, the world would be a better place. But then, people being considerate and without greed would solve a lot more problems then just not being able to find ‘that dress’ in store. |
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| His ‘n’ hers? |
[May. 10th, 2006|08:58 pm] |
I’m beginning to think that there are two types of trends; ones that girls and boys love, like mini skirts and low cut tops, and then the trends that girls love, and boys don’t really understand, notably the wedge, and maxi dress.
When the mini originally came in to fashion in the 60’s it was loved by men country wide, so much so that some of them even formed a protest group when the mini was axed from the shops in favour of the 70’s maxi skirt. Sounds rather blatantly pervy to me, but anyway I digress.
THE SHOE for this season is arguably the wedge, which as I have discussed earlier is a brilliant style for those who want to add height, but can’t stand up in stilettos. But, wedges just aren’t sexy. Let’s face it, they work so well against soft floaty dresses, stopping the whole look being to ‘fly away’, but they do it by being clunky, not sexy.
I am not one for dressing for males, I don’t think many people would freely admit to this, but, at the same time it would be nice to get more then “you’re shoes are odd” from the other half.
I found a pair of wedges that I utterly adore, they are just so perfect for that ‘pretty in the city’ dress look, but I just can’t bring myself to buy them. They are not the cheapest shoes I have ever come across by a long shot, and I honestly quite a cheap skate, but that isn’t what’s holding me back, it’s that only other girls will appreciate their beauty. And, while I probably value the opinions of girls when looking at clothes, I feel that spending that amount on shoes only half the population would understand just isn’t fair, call me diplomatic.
Instead I’ll spend half my money on some wedges I will love, and half on something undeniably sexy, but not sluttish, to make up for it. Well, honestly I shouldn’t (and probably won’t) spend money on either; I told you I’m a cheap skate. |
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| Who will buy? |
[May. 9th, 2006|10:57 am] |
New clothes are lovely, exciting, fresh, but also a strain on your bank balance. As a poor student I’ve felt the pinch of one too many trips to ‘just look’. It’s undeniable that new clothes are blissful, but so are old clothes. I don’t mean vintage, I mean clothes you already own but have just forgotten about.
Too many people are too quick to throw out old clothes, even stylists advise it; Trinny and Susannah saying clothes should be axed from the wardrobe if you haven’t worn them in six months. But I say no! Stop this madness. Surely I can’t be the only person to have noticed oh so similar styles coming out every other year just with a different name?
Take ankle length tired skirts, usually with three tiers and in a cotton type fabric. These were al the rage a few years ago; they were the gypsy boho skirt to be seen in. Then they disappeared and I’m sure were discarded by many, just in time for them to reappear with a few added beads and maybe the bottom tier removed as the peasant skirt, which everyone went out top purchase again.
And surely the sixth month rule can’t work. I have a lovely summer dress I wouldn’t dream of parting with, but do I wear it for the six months of cold weather we have over the Autumn/ Winter? No, but that doesn’t mean it’s somehow redundant.
It’s pretty obvious why the myth that old clothes are bad clothes is put about, because fashion after all makes it’s money on selling new clothes, which is fine, and you can’t keep everything, horder is never trendy. But before rushing out to buy that must have piece for this season, take a moment to check you don’t already have it from last season.
(Also it’s a good reason to still buy ‘fashion’ pieces in the sale, and not just basics. Just keep them for a while and they will come back as the next hottest thing. Failing that, they’ll be vintage.) |
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| Ruled Out. |
[May. 8th, 2006|10:54 am] |
I’m getting tired of reading fashion rules in magazines, especially if, like in the April edition of Glamour they are handed out by Victoria Beckham of all people.
The reason I’m becoming disgruntled, apart from my dislike of being patronised by a woman with the IQ of a peanut, is that these rules never seem to bee steadfast, they’ve been broken, remoulded and discarded almost by the end of the article that listed them as the ten commandments of clothing.
Some of these rules are just plain ridiculous. Always match. This is one a have a particular problem with. Matching is fine, it’s pretty, it’s neat, but it’s quite a dull way to dress. Interest in outfits comes from contrast, between textures, shape, colours and eras. Tweed against silk is a wonderful combination, but it sure doesn’t match, a large floral print combined with small polka dots can also be charming, but not matching.
The opposite of this rule is never to wear the same thing head to toe. This is another rule that doesn’t work. I’ve seen many horrible outfits, unfortunately some of them I’ve been wearing, but I must admit I’ve never looked at someone wearing a Gucci suit and shirt, or Miu Miu dress and shorts and thought it was a fashion crime. If I could afford to make this particular fashion ‘mistake’ believe me I would.
I think style is all about experimentation, which inevitably means that sometimes it just doesn’t look right. I’m starting to keep a style diary (www.mystylediary.com) just to remind myself of what outfits look good, a visual list of days when it goes right. Oh, and also to pinch ideas from other people who are doing it well. It’s like heat but better dressed, and less desperate. |
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| Fashion idle? |
[May. 7th, 2006|10:25 pm] |
Many people list Kate Moss as their reason detre, or at least their reason for trawling the high street for skinny jeans/ hot pants/ junkie boyfriends. Even the media is not immune, Kate topping Tattler’s best-dressed list of 2006 (the junkie boyfriend top of, or possibly second on the men’s list by the way. Sorry about the shoddy research). But what is it that’s so special about Kate’s style?
Her bohemian, laid back yet somehow elegant looks have lasted years of trend that come and go, yet somehow manage to morph themselves, re moulding so that they are still the must have it look of the season.
But is it really the clothes we all adore? I’m beginning to think not. The more I look at it the less I think that I really do want to be wearing tweed hot pants and wellies, or skinny jeans scrunched into ugg boots. Why do I want Kate’s look then? I think the answer is simple: do I want Kate's thighs that enable her to wear such hot pant/ welly combinations without looking like she has sausages for legs? Yes please. Do I went her elongated frame which means she doesn’t even have to wear heels to look graceful and willowy? Oh yes!
You see, I don’t want to dress like Kate, I mean don’t get me wrong, she is far from badly dressed, but she’s not exactly stand out fantastic with her clothes either, I just want to be able to dress like Kate. Simply put; I want a figure like Kate’s.
Since coming to this realisation I thought it would mean that I’d ditch the fashion idols, just start wearing what suited me and not what I want to suit me (please don’t think I was some kind of trend whore before this enlighten meant, do you think I have enough money for that?!?!?), but no, it hasn’t, not at all.
The fact that I have a folder on my desktop labelled ‘dressing’ full of famous ladies (Jenny Lewis, The Like, etc if you must know) if proof of this.
Hmm, I think I’m losing the point of this here… we don’t love celebrities for their style, we love them for their lifestyle, but knowing this won’t help you, so maybe we should just all enjoy it, and put Kate back on her fashion. God save the queen.
( The Fashion Regieme ) |
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| Summer lovin' |
[May. 6th, 2006|10:31 am] |
Call me old, boring, prudish or whatever you like, chances are I’ve heard it before, but this warm spell we are having has only served to remind me that I prefer winter clothes to summer ones. Maybe it’s because I like layering which tends to be rather impractical in the warmth, or maybe it’s just because I enjoy a bit of a cover up, but winter clothes are always that bit more alluring, the fabrics more luxurious, and my love for them somehow stronger.
However, summer, I have learned, is not the time for using clothes to create beautiful outfits, it’s the time for accessories. Sunglasses, necklaces, earrings and all things shiny as well as a fantastic beaded bag or lovely sun hat create the interest and ‘special-ness’ in your outfit that the clothes themselves sometimes (not always I hasten to add, see Chloe amongst others beautiful summer dresses) tend to lack.
Accessories can be made up of any sort of material, don’t just think metal, contrast it with dull wooden beads, or plastic kitsch (h&m have a great range of accessories in at the moment for those of you who are 'tack' way inclined, and rather reasonably priced too, so you don’t have to feel guilty when you get sick of them).
Sunglasses are incredibly important, and not only for that movie star persona they create, just make sure that yours are UV filters, and also make sure that you buy ones to suit your face, take a trusted friend for an opinion (or a sneaky digi-cam), because try as you like, you won’t be able to properly see yourself in the mirror once you are wearing them.
At last but not least, love accessories this summer, all types, all shapes, sizes, colours and materials, just please not all at once! (hint, if your neck in weighed down, or your jangling can’t be drowned out by an ipod, you’re wearing too much). |
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